by Cheryel Carpenter
July 22, 2005

City of Arlington Purchasing Manager Debra Carrejo has earned certification as a National Purchasing Officer from the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council.

Carrejo has met the criteria established by the UPPCC, which includes public purchasing, education, training and functional management experience. A comprehensive written examination and oral assessment confirmed her mastery of knowledge and competency.

This certification is recognized internationally and provides a high level of credibility not only to the procurement industry, but to all public entities being served, said UPPCC Chairman Don Buffum, in a letter to the City of Arlington on July 16.

The Purchasing Division has earned distinction as a 100 percent certified agency by the UPPCC. Among the north Texas municipalities, Arlington joins the City of Allen in achieving this accomplishment. The following City of Arlington employees hold certification as professional public buyers: Joe White, Janice Hughes, Carolyn Cross and Carrejo.

"I am very proud of my staff for investing time and enthusiasm in obtaining and maintaining their public purchasing certifications," Carrejo said. "The Purchasing Division takes seriously our responsibility to magnify the power of taxpayer dollars by seeking the highest quality at the best value to the city."

The UPPCC was established in 1978 by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing and the National Association of State Procurement Officials to promote effective procurement professionalism in the public sector.